Recently, WhatsApp services (as well as all of Facebook’s services) went offline worldwide, and that brought a question: are there other communication apps as good as it?
In this article, we will talk about Telegram, an app that provides the same service WhatsApp does, with a few different resources.
We will compare both apps and check whether Telegram could replace WhatsApp.
Can Telegram replace WhatsApp?
This is hard to say.
For an app to replace another, people need to start using this second app. In turn, for this to happen, this new app needs to have features that truly stand out.
Even though many people recently started downloading Telegram, WhatsApp still remains the main used messaging app, with a whopping 2.5 billion users. It is hard to top that.
Telegram does have some features which are superior to WhatsApp, but it has its pitfalls too, which might block the way for people to migrate en masse to the app.
Is Telegram similar to Whatsapp?
In some ways, it is.
For example, you can create groups to talk with close friends, and you can enter chat groups of specific topics, etc.
It also has stickers that turn conversations more fun, you can use the “@” to mention someone in a group, but the similarities remain to the most basic features like these.
Telegram has a wide array of other features that make it look more like a finished product, leaving WhatsApp in the dust. We will soon talk about these features.
Is Telegram owned by Whatsapp?
No. Telegram has nothing to do with WhatsApp in terms of ownership.
While WhatsApp has been acquired by Facebook, thus being owned by Mark Zuckerberg, Telegram is owned by a Russian entrepreneur called Pavel Durov.
How is Telegram different from Whatsapp?
In terms of resources, it is safe to say Telegram has much more options for quality messaging than WhatsApp.
The first major difference you will notice once you start using Telegram is that you can edit and delete messages you sent. Have you typed something wrong? No problem, just edit it. Have you sent something to the wrong person? Just delete it before they read it.
When you are creating groups for communication where other people are supposed only to read the messages, you can create a channel instead.
In a channel, members will be able to see the last 100 messages but can’t respond.
A channel can be open for anyone to view without actually becoming a member.
At normal chat groups, you can also let new members view the last 100 messages.
Talking about groups, WhatsApp and Telegram have a huge difference in the number of members allowed.
While WhatsApp groups can have up to 256 members, Telegram groups can have up to 200,000 members.
If you are a content creator that wants to allow all your Patreon supporters into a chat group, Telegram seems like a better option.
(Sure, Discord is much more used for such purpose, but some creators truly use Telegram for that too.)
Another meaningful divergence between the two platforms is that you don’t need to keep your phone online to access Telegram on your computer.
If, for some reason, you can’t use your phone, you will still be able to reach your contacts on Telegram.
Adding contacts is also easier as you don’t need to add people’s phone numbers. Each user has a tag, and you just need to add that tag.
Why use Telegram instead of WhatsApp?
Some features listed above already count as reasons to use Telegram instead of WhatsApp.
However, some other reasons can be listed, some of which are invisible when you are simply texting with friends and family, but they make a difference in the background.
First of all, Telegram has no limit for data storage in the cloud. You can send as much content as you want on the platform, and all will be stored.
Sure, this raises some questions. Perhaps there is no limit because there are not enough users as of yet. If too many users start using the platform, perhaps the company will need to set some limit or step ahead in technology to store all data (does this make anyone think of Silicon Valley TV comedy?).
Another huge feature of Telegram is the Voicy bot. Perhaps you are not a person that likes to listen to audio sent by others.
Well, Voicy turns audio into text messages, so you don’t need to pause your music or put on earphones just to listen to what others are saying on the app.
Telegram has other useful bots, too, that help improve the overall user experience.
What are the disadvantages of Telegram?
The main disadvantage of Telegram is the way it encrypts data.
WhatsApp, for example, uses end-to-end data encryption.
Telegram, on the other hand, encrypts your data as they go between your device and the main server, but all is stored on the server and may be accessed from various devices.
Other disadvantages include:
- Telegram collects your contact data
- Support isn’t very good
Is Telegram really safer than WhatsApp?
As of now, it is not safer than WhatsApp.
As explained, the encryption used by each app is different, and the end-to-end encryption of WhatsApp is still more secure.
However, this does not mean Telegram isn’t a safe app. Its security protocols are just a bit behind the competition.
What’s the best alternative to WhatsApp?
The single best alternative to WhatsApp is Telegram. However, other apps have conquered a decent public, including:
- Signal
- Viber
- Discord
- Bridgefy
- Kik
- Snapchat
Can you be tracked on Telegram?
Yes. Telegram has recently added a location sharing feature, which potentially can let people track and find you. This certainly has plenty of pitfalls.
To learn more about this feature, its pros and cons, check here.
Why is everyone leaving Whatsapp for Telegram?
Because it is a better app overall.
We already talked about the main features the app has, and those are meaningful to different people.
Other features on the app are also making people choose it above WhatsApp, including:
- Secret chats
- Self-destructing messages
- You can hide your number
- Possibility to upload files as large as 2GB
- Automatic cloud storage
- Swift multiplatform support
- Option to save your favorite messages instead of searching for them later
- When you draft a message, the app notifies you that you still have drafts unsent
- Message scheduling
- More customization options
- It is open-source
- It gets updated frequently, eliminating bugs and adding better features
Is Telegram Faster Than WhatsApp?
There is no meaningful difference in data transfer speeds.
When you need to upload something in either app, you should expect the same speed, according to your internet connection.
Is there Telegram web like Whatsapp web?
Yes.
To use Telegram on your computer, you can either download the desktop application or access the service via browser.
The great thing about using Telegram on your computer is that you don’t need to be online on your phone to use the app on the desktop.
All you need to do is log in once on your computer, and then you will be set up.
Is Telegram more expensive than Whatsapp?
No.
In fact, none of the services cost anything to users.
Right now, Telegram keeps its servers running out of investments and donations made by people interested in the service.
In 2020, however, the creator and owner of Telegram talked a bit about the possibility of adding some sort of revenue into the app.
He pointed that if such a thing happens, the money should be reverted back to improving the platform.
If, for example, Telegram added premium stickers that users need to buy, a significant part of the profit would go to artists, thus encouraging the growth of small artists.
Whatsapp, Viber and Telegram, which is the best for instant messaging?
Right now, Telegram is undoubtedly the best app for messaging your friends and family.
Unfortunately, not everyone is using it, but checking all features, it is clear why it is a superior application.
While WhatsApp is highly popular, it lacks great features that Telegram already adopted. We don’t need to mention them again, as you still have them fresh in your mind.
It could be a matter of time for Telegram to take over in popularity, but this is hard to foresight as WhatsApp is owned by Facebook.
The major problem with Telegram is that its encryption isn’t as good as WhatsApp’s. Once the devs solve that, we can perhaps see the app grow in popularity.
Viber is incredible too, but its popularity has fallen in recent years, and there is no sign it will regain any of it in the years to come.
Final thoughts
Popularity doesn’t always mean being the better, and that is clear when we look at the differences between WhatsApp and Telegram.
While WhatsApp is hugely popular and almost anyone that possesses a smartphone uses it, Telegram is a complete app with features that make conversations more fun and dynamic.
